AMC V8 Engines 1966-1991 – How to Rebuild & Modify
Author: Tony Pontillo Published by: Car Tech ISBN: 978-1-61325-599-5
I wonder how many American Motors Corporation (AMC) cars are over here in the UK and of those, how many were built between 1966 and 1991 with a V8 engine? Compared with Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Fords, Plymouths and Dodges of the same period there surely cannot be many. As a result, if one does have one of these comparatively rare but excellent vehicles you’ll be only too aware that keeping it on the road, running safely and reliably, will be a greater challenge than maintaining a vehicle from GM, Ford and Mopar. Spares will be harder to find and due to their relative rarity likely to be a bit more expensive when you do locate a source.
Offset that against the kick of owning something well out of the norm and most owners will say that it’s worth it.
However, when things do start to wear, especially in the engine department, the huge and easily available wealth of knowledge on how to rebuild and, if necessary, modify more common American V8s is simply not available to research AMC cars. This is where this new manual should prove invaluable. The author is a long-time AMC specialist auto parts and machining workshop owner in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the home of AMC. He takes you through all the necessary steps to guide the reader who wishes to rebuild an AMC 290, 304, 343, 360, 390 and 401 cid V8 engine, to stock specs or modified for additional performance.
These engines can be improved for both power and reliability. Instructions demonstrating teardown, inspection and machining lead to chapters on the crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and rings, camshafts and lifters, the oiling system, intake manifold and reassembly. There is also information on carburetion, fuel injection, the ignition system and how to properly test run a rebuilt engine. It covers all the bases with a clear text and excellent captioned photos.
There may not be many takers for this, but if you have an AMC V8 it could be a godsend.